Wickedfinger
02-26-2003, 05:45 PM
http://adcache.atvtraderonline.com/16/7/4/43269374.htm... sure, its a beutiful Tecate, but $3500! .... come on. People like this just piss me off. Its like what happened to muscle cars a few years ago ... everybody kept overinflating their asking prices untill nobody wanted to or could afford to buy them anymore. Now the market is stagnate and the cars worth is suppressed - it now is prohibitively expensive to restore one because you would never even come close to making any of your investment back. Sure, to some people money dosn't matter and its only the thrill or love of something that drives them to collect or restore. I can sort off be clasified in that category - but only to a point. I won't throw money down the drain for no return, its against my best nature. If I buy a '86 Tri-z for say $800 in semi-rough shape - frames a little rusty, engine needs a top end rebuild, could use a set of handle-bars, grips, pad, rear plastic is frankenstein zip-stitched, could use a new clutch cable, rear shocks blown, water pump is leaky, seat cover has a rip in it, fork boots are ripped, the front hub and rear swing arm needs bearings and it needs three tires. the cost to restore the ride to decent, every-day ride condition would be as follows: $40 for the jug bore/hone, $90 for the Wiesco piston, $15 for the topend gaskets, $30 for the pump rebuild kit, $250 for the Warrior rear shock, $25 for the front hub bearings, $15 each for the rear's, $25 for the fork boots, $150 for the Maier rear fender, $50 worth of misc. parts - from cleaners to RTV, $25 for a terminator clutch cable, $50 for painting supplies if I do it myself ($150 to have a shop prep and paint the frame), $15 for the plastic-renu kit to bring back the airbox cover and the front fender to good shape, $45 for a Travelcade seat cover or $90 for a really good Hi-Flite, $200 for say 20" holeshot rear tires/.190 rims/shipping, $75 for a Trailhawk front tire/shipping, $25 for a good set of laser-cut Yamaha decals (no you cant get the Real "Z" ones anymore), $25 for a Uni-filter, $100 for a decent quality handlebar w/ grips, and a logo pad. Thats almost $2200 for the cost of the whole project. If I went to sell it the next day after the rebuild, I would have to list it for $2400 just to break even and have some wiggle room in bargaining. The truth of the matter is - I'd be crazy if I seriously thought I could get that much for a 17 year old machine that many people wouldn't want anyway - I'd be lucky to get $1400 for it and that a $1000 loss. I'd hate to loose a 1/3 of an investment in anything. Oh well, I'll just keep on looking for "Real" deals I guess.